Folding-wringer interlock



Spt. 28', 1926.

A. S. WISE FOLDIN G WRINGE R INTERLOCK Filed June 2, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l AFI'TORNEY I ll l INVENTOR. A'//e/7 5. 14/168 A. S. WISE FOLDING WRINGER INTERLOCK Sept. 28 1926. 1,601,333

Filed June 2, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES: I INVENTOR Aflen SIM/Ase Patented Sept. 28, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALLEN S. "WISE, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A SSIGNOR T0 WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING-WRINGER INTERLOCK.

Application filed June 2,

My invention relates to improvements in laundry machines and more particularly to interlocks for foldable wringers of the type generally used in foldable washing machines.

The object of the invention generally stated is the provision of wringer interlocks for laundry machines simple and eflicient in operation, readily and economically manufactured.

A more specific object of the invention is to effect the protection of the parts of a folding machine from damage through the 1 setting in operation of any part before all exposed parts are in position to permit operation.

.t is .also an object of this invention to provide for the cessation of operation of the moving parts of a folding machine when a foldable part, with which it will make contact, is moved toward its folded position.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear herein-.

after.

The invention accordingly 1s dlsclosed 1n the embodiment thereof shown in the accom panying drawing and comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which willbe hereinafterset forth, and the scope of application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a full understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a foldable washing machine having parts cut away to show wringer interlock in accordance with this invention, and

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of a foldable- H I washing machlne havlng parts cut away to show a wringer lnterlock 111 position.

Referring now to the draw1ng,10 designates generally a foldable washing machine provided with a foldable wringer 11 and a tub 12 mounted for oscillation to-eifect the washing operation. As will be observed, the wringer 11 is mounted to rotate about the shaft 18 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 while the tub 12 is trunnioned in the washing machine casing to oscillate about an axis substantially in linewith the pin 14 when in the position shown in Fig. 1, and is connected to any prime mover through links 15. and 16 the latter being pivotally 1924. Serial No. 717,302.

attached to a bearing pin 17 fixed to the tub. In order to effect the oscillation of the tub about its axis, a lever 18 is pivotally mounted on the frame at 19 and carries a pin 14 which slides in the guide way 20 provided in the link 16. Consequently, the pin 14 serves as a movable fulcrum about which the link 16 may be oscillated to impart the desired motion to the tub when the prime mover is in operation. By shifting the lever 18 from left to right, as viewed in Fig. 1, the amplitude of oscillation of thetub may be gradually decreased until the pin is moved into alinement with the bearing pin 17, when the tub is brought to rest. Thus, the lever 18 constitutes a tub control which is in off position when thrown to the right, placing the pins 1% and 17 in alinement and in on position when thrown to the left, as shown in Fig. 1. The tub-operating mechanism de-' scribed above is no part of this invention but is merely introduced in order that the construction and operation of the interlock may be more clearly described.

In foldable washing machines of this type, when the wringer is moved into its folded v position, shown in dotted lines Fig. 1, it lies in the path of movement of .the tub and, if the latter is in operation or thrown into operation, damage to both the tub and wringer may result. With a View to eliminating the possibility of throwing a wringer to its folded position when the tub is in operation, a cam 25 is mounted on the wringer to coact with a crank-and-link mechanism to move the tub control to its off position, thereby bringing the tub to rest as the wringer is moved toward its folded position. As will be observed, the crank-anddink mechanism includes a bell crank 22 pivotally mounted on a bracket 21 carried by the washing machine frame and two links 24 and 23 connected to the upper and lower arms ofthe crank, respectively. In order to effect the operationof the tub control, or lever 18, through this mechanism, the free end of the link 23 is pivotally connected to an extension of the lever 18 which projects below the pivot point 19. Since the cam 25 co-acts with the rod 24'which is connected to the upper arm of the bell crank, any movement of the wringer from its erected'position will be transmitted to the tub control. By constructing the link 24 of such length that, when the tub control is in on position, it will just reach the cam 25, with the wringer in its erected position, and immediate action of the device is assured upon movement of the wringer toward its folded position. As shown in the drawing, the link24c is mounted to slide in fixed guides and its movement is equal to the difference in length of the radii of the active sector of the cam. Since the movement of the link 24L- is in a straight line,

its connection with the bell crank is adapted to permit lost motion.

In operation, when the tub control 18 is in its off position, which is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and the wringer 11 is in its folded position, the rod 24 is forced to the limit of its downward movement and is retained in such position by the cam 25, thereby making it impossible to setthe tub 12 in motion. By raising the wringer 11 to its erect or vertical position, the rod 24: is released and the tub control may be operated. If now the tub control is thrown to the left, as shown in Fig. 1, the rod 2a is projected upward into engagement withthe cam 25.

As long as the wringer 11 is kept in its upright position, the tub control 18 may be operated freely. In case the operator neglects to throw the tub control to its off position before moving the wringer 11 to its folded position, no damage will occur, since the active face of the cam 25 will move across the rod 24: and thereby operate the crank-and-link mechanism to throwthe tub control to its off position, thereby bringing the tub to rest before the wringer reaches its folded position.

Since'certain changes may be .made in the above construction, and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from .the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: p

1. Ina laundry machine, the combination of a 'foldable wringer, a tub controland means cooperative with the wringer, when in its folded position, to retain the tub control in off position.

2. Ina laundry machine, the combination of-a foldable wringer, a tub control, and means operable, on the. movement of the wringer to "foldedposition, to effect the movement of the tub control to off position, thereby, bringing the tube to rest.

3. Ina laundry machine, the combination of-a foldable "wringer, a tub control, and "means cooperative with the wringer, when "in "foldedfpoisition, to retain the tub control "in elf osition, said me ns being adapted itoeffetthe movement of the .tub-clontrolto se pentine as the warn-geitea-raved to "its and-link of A ahdlink mechanrsrn connected the "tub folded position, thereby bringing the tub to rest.

l. In a laundry machine, the combination ofa foldable-wringer, a tub control, and means cooperative with the wringer, when in folded position, to retain the tub control in off position, said means being adapted to permit independent operation of the tub control when the wringer is in operative position.

5. 111 a laundry machine, the combination of a foldable wringer, a tub control, and a wringer interlock interposed between the wringer and tub control, said wringer interlock being adapted to permit the independent operation of the tub control when the wringer is in operative position.

6. In a laundry machine,'the combination of a foldable wringer, a tub control,and a wringer interlock comprising means cooperative to retain the tub control infoif position when the wringer is infolded "position, said means being adapted to elfect movement of the tub control to ofl' positionas the wringer is moved to folded position and to permit independent operation of the tub control when the wringer is in operative position.

7. In a laundry machine, the combination of a foldable wringer, a tub control, and a wringer interlock comprising a crank-andlink mechanism disposed to move "the tub control to off position, and a cam carried by the wringer and adapted to operate the crank-and link mechanism as the wringer is moved to folded position.

8. In a laundry machine, the combination of a foldable wringer, a tub control, and a wringer interlock comprising a crank-andlink mechanism disposed to operate the tub control, and a cam carried by the wringer and adapted to operate the crank-and-link mechanism as the wringer is moved to folded position, said cam cooperating with the crank-andlink mechanism to retain the tub control in off position when the wringer is in folded position.

9. In a laundry machine, the combination of a foldable wringer, a tub'control, and a wringer interlock "comprising a crank-"andlin'k-mechanism disposed to effect the'operation of the tub control, and a cam carried by the wringer and adapted to operate the crank-a'nd-link mechanism as the wringer is moved to folded position, said cam cooperating with the crankand-link mechanism "to "reta'in the tub control in oifjposition when the wringerfis in folded position, said crankm'echanism being independent.

when the wringer isin an operativepositien,

thereby permittin the tub heatre-1 to be operated at will.

I10, in a laundrymachine the combination *foldable gatab cen 1,

control and adapted to effect the operation of said tub control, and means actuated by the Wringer as it is moved to folded position to operate the crank-and-link mechanism to move the tub control to off position.

11. In a Washing machine in combination, a foldable Wringer, means for performing Washing operations, means for controlling the Washing operations, a Wringer interlock interposed between the Wringer and the con- 10 trol means and means actuated by the Wringer as it is moved to its folded position to operate the control means to stop the Washing operations.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 26th day of May,

ALLEN S. WISE. 

